Dear Student Leader, March is here, and madness is imminent. From understanding war to acknowledging gender pay gaps, the fight for your sanity is real. How will you respond? Distraction is an option. You could avoid difficulties and instead manage NCAA tournament brackets. But you’re a leader and unafraid of responsibilities. Leaders reflect and apply previously learned lessons to current circumstances. Acquiring the mental health skills to conquer challenges is not simple.

Dear Student Leader,   Did you know that Black history includes fabulous Pharaohs and the disgusting Diddy? Our life’s story did not begin on slave ships and plantations, nor does it end with the fall of one or more entertainers. African people share a global history replete with successes and failures. Our ancestors lived and experimented with math, science, literature, and technology before landing in America. Origins within the African continent and throughout the diaspora

Dear Malcolm, Where do I begin this? My son picked you as the “Person of the Century” for a class assignment. His report reminded me that you died on February 21, 1965. If you hadn't died, you might have reached 100 today. Most of us don’t live past 100, but anything is possible in the pockets of my imagination. They killed you because you threatened their egos and systems. Your words had teeth to bite injustices and cripple racism. The courage you embodied in your speeches a

Dear Student Leader, Did you watch the Super Bowl? During the first half, I played basketball with my son, but I managed to catch Bad Bunny’s performance and the last quarters. I loved the overt display of Latinx culture in Bad Bunny’s show, and I expected the Seahawks to win. I couldn’t tell you the name of Bad Bunny’s songs before the Super Bowl. Now, I know “Tití Me Pregunto,” “NuevaYoL,” and “Café con Ron” are the titles of some of his popular tracks. The Spanish language

1 of 3 fog captures from my running adventures Dear Student Leader,   How is the weather? In Sacramento, we’ve had a series of foggy days. When driving and out running, the low visibility reminds me of snow flurries during Chicago’s winters. It’s difficult to see the path ahead. Oftentimes, leadership is like being surrounded by dense fog. You have the vision of where you want to go, but it’s challenging to discern the best route forward. Do you stop? No. You consider past ex

Dear Student Leader, What’s the difference between education and school? Are they one and the same? If you’ve never thought about it, continue reading this letter. You attend school to receive an education. The school is the structure. You know the desks, the building, textbooks, and material components. School also includes teachers, administrators, your peers, and the staff. An education is how you apply what you learn from the things and people in school. Dr. Martin Luther

Dear Student Leader, How are things? Did you use last week’s lesson on consistency and accountability? We are less than two weeks into 2026. Like any day, now is a great time to build new habits. Take the “New Year Resolution train” and start your journey to making changes. Failures will happen, but don’t let them stop you. Courage isn’t authorizing bombings, shooting observers, or removing politicians. Loud power plays often feed weak egos and starving ethnocentric beliefs.

I never met you, but something tells me I knew something about you. In undergrad, I read your book, Assata: An Autobiography .  It was...

What would happen if you went outdoors without a shirt on a winter day in Chicago? Depending on your gender, you might get arrested. Stay outside long enough without the police, and you will freeze. The temperatures drop below zero every year. For people in the Midwest, that freeze is not new, but it remains difficult to accept. When I complain about being cold, people often say, “Are you from Chicago?” "Yes, but I still get cold," is how I usually respond. It's human nature

Did you know that Bob Marley would have turned 78 this week? Unfortunately, cancer cut his life short at 36. When I started dreadlocks...

When the business fails, what options do you have in place? If you lost your job tomorrow, how would you eat and pay the mortgage or...

It was 1:30 AM. No one was awake. Well, at least she hoped. Her plan was to meet the others and leave before THEY noticed. She grabbed...